Kate Carl, an American artist, is invited to paint the portrait of the Empress of China, Cixi. When she arrives in China she hears many rumours about the Empress. She also meets George Morrison, an English journalist. He tells her not to be intimidated. Kate begins the portrait and while she paints, the Empress tells her about her life...
The Empress, known as Yehenara as a young girl, was a concubine in the Forbidden City. She desperately wanted to be chosen by the Emperor to be his escort. And she was, indeed, chosen. After three months she became pregnant. She was then taken to the Summer Palace where she gave birth to a son, Tung Chih. This was the Emperor's first son and very important to the dynasty. However, as was the custom, the baby was taken away from Yehenara to be brought up by the court.
Prince Tun, the Emperor's brother, was devasted by the birth of Tung Chih as he had plans to take the throne for himself. The Royal Party fled to the Winter Palace after the British attacked and destroyed the Summer Palace. But the Emperor was much weakened and lay dying. Yehenara knew that if he died without naming Tung Chih as his heir, Prince Tun would claim the throne and her son's life and her own life would be in grave danger. She found her son and rushed to the Emperor's chamber. No one could stop her while she was carrying the Emperor's son. With his last breath the Emperor named Tung Chih as his successor and Yehenara as Regent.
But Tung Chih grew up to be a rebellious young man. He was tempted by Prince Tuan, the song of Prince Tun, to go to the brothels. Indulging his new-found freedom he became ill with syphilis. Yehenara was helpless to do anything but wipe his feverish brow with her handkerchief as he died. Again Prince Tun saw a chance for power but again was thwarted as Yehenara quickly named her nephew, Kuang Hsu, as the next Emperor.
All this time Kate has been writing to Morrison about these events. He is amazed that the Empress has told Kate contradict all the rumours he has heard. The Empress continues her story ...
She tells Kate that Kuang Hsu became an ambitious Emperor, determined to reform China. But this lead to the Boxer rebellion and China was crippled by the internal conflict. Despite everything Yehenara has tried to do, she is surrounded by loss and failure.
Kate meets with Morrison. She is falling in love and Morrison continues to be fascinated by everything she tells him about the Empress the completed portrait. But the Empress is furious...
What has happened? What has become of her story? Where will it end? And is this the end of China itself?
Music: Dick Lee
Book: Stephen Clark, Dick Lee
Lyrics: Stephen Clark
Idea Development: Stephen Clark, Dick Lee, Steven Dexter
Director: Steven Dexter
Music Director: Sydney Tan
Music Arranger: Bang Wenfu
Choreographer: Nick Winston
Original Staging: George Chan
Set Designer: Francis O'Connor
Costume Designer: Yang Derong
Lighting Designer: Chris Ellis
Sound Designer: Mike Walker
Vocal Coach: Amanda Colliver
Hair & Accessories Designer: Ashley Lim
Make-up Designer: Elaine Lee
Cast:
Leigh McDonald
Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie
Hal Fowler
Sheila Francisco
Richard Chia
Kit Chan
Oliver Pang
Hossan Leong
Sebastian Tan
George Chan
R J Rosales
Presslee Chng
Jovan Lee
Joel Ng
Kaylen Chan
Ng Kit Chong
Dilion Ong
Russell Marino Soh
Luke Kwek
Dwayne Tan
Celine Rosa Tan
Ensemble:
Oliver Pang
Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie
Dunstan Ong
Jacqueline Pereira
Candice de Rozario
Seong Hui Xuan
Celine Rosa Tan
Eleanor Tan
Musicians:
Tony Ang Ting Leong
Tan Jia Bin
Stephen Yan
Joel Nah
Vicknes Veerappan
Berlinda Foo
Linus Lee
Damien Lim Yong Seng
Conductor: Sydney Tan
Associate Sound Designer: Chris Simpson
Associate Lighting Designer: John Harris
Lighting Programme: Ben Davis
Assistant to Director: Tracie Pang
Rehearsal Pianist: Joel Nah
Production Manager: Suraya Ab Rasid
Assistant Production Manager: Derrick Chew
Stage Manager: Woo Hsia Ling
Assistant Stage Manager: Haironnisa Karim, Toh Lin
Technical Manager: Roy Lee
Surtitles Operator/ Typesetter: Andre He
Wardrobe Manager: Vivianne Koh
Wardrobe Assistants: Baey Ee Ming, Ernie Marlena Mokhtar, Chloei Hew, Cheryl Ho
Make-up Assistants: Celine, Kiko, Dianne Lau
Hairstylists: Steven Leong, Pauline Tan
Props Master: Jed Lim
(Source: Singapore Repertory Theatre Programme)